Pill cutters and methods of use

ABSTRACT

Pill cutters and methods of cutting pills. The pill cutters may optionally include a spinnable blade and may be configured to cause the blade to spin to cut a pill. The pill cutters may be adapted to adjust the position of the pill before cutting the pill.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the following U.S. applications, thedisclosures of which are fully incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes: U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/045,003, filed Jun. 26,2020; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/141,755, filed Jan. 26,2021.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specificationare herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if eachindividual publication or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Around 1 in 6 Americans use a pill splitter to split their pills, andthe proportion is likely higher for patients with multiple chronicdiseases who often require multiple pills. They typically split theirpills for one or more of the following reasons: get the right dosage,reduce the size of the pill because the pill is too big to safely orcomfortably swallow, or to save money.

Current pill splitters come in multiple configurations, but generallythey use a sharp blade or cutter configured in a holder with a handlethat is pressed down to fracture the pill. They generally include a topor cover portion that includes a fixed blade, and a bottom pillreceiving portion that can receive the pill that is to be cut. The topportion may be hinged with the bottom portion, so that the top portioncan be lifted to allow access to the pill receiving area in the bottomportion. After the pill is positioned in the bottom pill receiving area,the top portion, including the fixed blade, is pressed down until theblade engages and cuts through the pill. Merely exemplary pill splittersare described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,828,181 and 8,590,164, the disclosuresof which are incorporated by reference herein. Traditional pillsplitters typically have a V-shaped bed to accept and hold the pill.

There are multiple problems with current pill splitters. First, theyoften result in pills being split unevenly, with around 15% of splitpill halves falling outside the proxy USP specification range in acontrolled study. There are suggestions that in the real world thevariation may be higher. For example, a survey conducted showed 65% ofpill splitter users felt their pills were split unevenly by theircurrent pill splitter, based on visual inspection. Depending on thespecific drug being split, uneven splitting could lead to significantissues of safety and efficacy, decreasing the quality of life. Second,they are hard to use, with nearly half of all respondents in a surveyreporting difficulty in using them. For example, they are hard to pressor it is difficult to position the pills in the splitter. Patients'dissatisfaction with pill splitters could lead to poor medicationcompliance on their own and an increasing reliance on others.

Additionally, depending on the pill and/or the particular pill splitter,it may be difficult to position a pill in the pill area such that theblade cuts the pill along an intended cut or split line. This may be atleast partly based on the pill, including one or both of the pill sizeand shape. For example, some pills have non-circular shapes (e.g.,triangular) for which it may be difficult to properly position and/orstabilize the pill in the pill splitter, such as in a generally “V”shaped pill area or region. It may be desirable to have more control ofthe positioning or adjustment of the pill in the cutting area of thesplitter.

Additionally, traditional pill splitters are generally designed to splita pill into two pieces (e.g., halves). In some instances, it may bedesirable to more easily split a pill into more than two pieces, such asthree or more pieces (such as thirds, or quarters, for example, if thedesired pieces have the same size). To cut a pill into more than twopieces, it may be desirable to have more control over the positioning oradjustment of the pill relative to the blade plane, which is generallythe plane the blade is in during the cutting process.

Effective and reliable handheld pill cutters are needed to overcome oneor more of the deficiencies set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the disclosure includes pill cutters that include aspinnable blade, wherein the pill cutters are configured to cut a pillwith the spinning blade.

In this aspect, the pill cutters may include a base portion thatincludes a pill receiving area that is sized and configured to receive apill and a bladed portion that includes a blade that is adapted to spin.The bladed portion may be movably coupled to the base portion andmovable relative to the base portion to allow access to the pillreceiving area to position a pill in the pill receiving area.

In this aspect, the pill cutters may include one or more energycommunication elements, which may include a motor, that are configuredto operably communicate energy to the blade and cause the blade to spinrelative to the bladed portion.

In this aspect, the blade may be arranged and disposed relative to thepill receiving area such that when the bladed portion is moved towardsthe base portion and when the blade is spinning, the blade cuts througha pill that is secured in the pill receiving area.

In this aspect, the pill cutters may also be adapted to prevent theblade from spinning in certain situations. The pill cutters may includea spin preventing mechanism that is configured to prevent the pillcutter from causing the blade to spin. Blade spin preventing mechanismsmay be adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade if thebladed portion is in a first position relative to the base portion.Blade spin preventing mechanisms may be adapted to prevent the pillcutter from spinning the blade if the bladed portion is in a fully openposition relative to the base portion. Blade spin preventing mechanismsmay be adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade if thebladed portion is not in a closed (or not sufficiently closed) positionrelative to the base portion. Blade spin preventing mechanisms mayfurther be adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade ifone or both of the blade or a blade arm is not displaced from a neutralor at-rest position within the bladed portion. Blade spin preventingmechanisms may include a motor that is in operable communication withthe blade, and wherein the blade spin preventing mechanism is adapted toprevent the motor from being activated when one or both of the bladedportion is not in a closed configuration, or the blade and/or a bladearm coupled to the blade are not displaced from a neutral positionwithin the bladed portion. Blade spin preventing mechanisms may includeone or more sensors and/or one or more switches that facilitate controlof when the motor can be activated and when it cannot be activated.Blade spin preventing mechanisms may be further adapted to slow or stopthe blade after it has begun to spin, such as if the pill is cut or acover is lifted.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may be adapted to cause the spinningblade to slow or stop if the bladed portion is moved from a closedposition towards or to an open position.

In this aspect, the pill cutters may be further adapted to cause thespinning blade to slow or stop when the blade has cut through the pill.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may be further adapted to cause thespinning blade to slow or stop when one or both of the blade or a bladearm returns from a displaced configuration to a neutral position withinthe bladed portion that indicates the pill has been cut. The pillcutters may further comprise a spring or spring-like element that ispositioned and arranged to be compressed as the bladed portion is movedtowards a closed position relative to the base portion, and where thespring is adapted to cause one or both of the blade or the blade arm tomove towards the neutral position as the blade spins and cuts the pill,wherein the movement towards the neutral position causes the blade tocut through the pill. In this example, a spring may be coupled to thecover portion of the bladed portion and to a blade arm, for example,such that when compressed it will apply a force on the blade arm to pushthe blade arm downward through the pill.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may further comprise a spring that ispositioned and arranged to be compressed as the bladed portion is movedtowards a closed position relative to the base portion, and where thespring is adapted to cause one or both of the blade or the blade arm tomove towards a neutral position as the blade spins and cuts the pill,wherein the movement towards the neutral position causes the blade tocut through the pill.

In this aspect, one or more energy communication elements may include amotor in operable communication with the blade such that motoractivation causes the blade to spin. A motor may be part of the bladedportion.

In this aspect, the bladed portion and/or the pill cutter in general mayhave a width from 2 cm to 20 cm, such as from 5 cm to 15 cm, such as 10cm, or about 10 cm.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may further comprise an energy sourcereceiving area disposed in the base portion, the energy source receivingarea sized and configured to receive a removable energy source therein.Energy source receiving areas may be disposed behind the pill receivingarea of the pill cutter (closer to the back of the pill cutter).

In this aspect, the blade may be in rotational communication with amotor shaft of a motor.

In this aspect, a motor may be in electrical communication with anenergy source receiving area, wherein the energy source receiving areamay be configured and dimensioned to receive a battery therein.

In this aspect, one of the bladed portion or the base portion mayinclude a battery receiving area sized and configured to stably receivea removable battery therein. A battery receiving area may be sized andconfigured to stably receive therein one of a cylindrical battery, arectangular battery, or a coin-shaped battery, for example. Batteryreceiving areas may optionally not overlap with a blade path or a bladeplane of the blade in a top-down view of the handheld pill cutter, whenthe bladed portion is in a closed position relative to the base portion.

In this aspect, the pill cutters may have a width from 2 cm to 20 cm.

In this aspect, a base portion and a bladed portion may have a hingedrelationship at an end region of the pill cutter to facilitate openingand closing of the bladed portion relative to the base portion.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may further comprise one or more pillsecuring members disposed to be movable by a user relative to the pillreceiving area to secure a pill between at least first and secondsurfaces when the pill is placed in the pill receiving area, and a pilladjustment actuator operably coupled to a pill adjustment member, thepill adjustment member movable relative to the pill receiving area uponuser actuation of the pill adjustment actuator to facilitate at leastsome lateral movement of the secured pill relative to a blade plane.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may be adapted to cut pills whenoriented non-horizontally relative to a surface on which the pill isplaced. The pill cutter may be sized and configured to maintain a pillin a non-horizontal position relative to the surface in which a pillheight relative to a base portion surface on which the pill is disposedis greater than a height of the pill if either a top or bottom surfaceof the pill were placed on the surface or other horizontal surface.

One aspect of this disclosure is related to pill cutters that areadapted to move a pill laterally to some extent in the pill receivingarea. The term laterally as used herein does not require solely lateralmovement, but rather laterally as used herein also includes movementthat includes some lateral movement and some degree of back or forthmovement. Lateral movement refers to the x direction in a coordinatesystem (+/−), and front/back pill movement refers to the y direction inthe coordinate system (+/−), which is shown in FIG. 6B and can beapplied to all pill cutters herein regardless of the particular exampleor embodiment.

In this aspect, the pill cutter may include one or more pill securingmembers disposed such that they may be movable by a user relative to thepill receiving area to secure a pill between at least first and secondsurfaces when the pill is placed in the pill receiving area, and a pilladjustment actuator operably coupled to a pill adjustment member, thepill adjustment member movable relative to the pill receiving area uponuser actuation of the pill adjustment actuator to facilitate lateralmovement of the secured pill relative to a blade plane.

In this aspect, a pill adjustment member may be adapted to be movedrelative to the pill receiving area upon user actuation of the pilladjustment actuator to cause rotation of the secured pill.

In this aspect, the pill adjustment member may be adapted to be movedrelative to the pill receiving area upon user actuation of the pilladjustment actuator to cause solely lateral movement of the pillrelative to the blade plane (i.e., no +/−y direction movement, see FIG.6B).

In this aspect, the lateral movement of the secured pill includes someaxial pill movement (i.e., some +/−y direction movement).

In this aspect, the pill adjustment actuator may extend from a frontregion of the pill cutter and away from the pill receiving area.

In this aspect, the pill adjustment actuator may extend from a side ofthe pill cutter and away from the pill receiving area.

In this aspect, the pill adjustment member may be adapted and arrangedto pivot about a rotational axis relative to a base surface of the baseportion.

In this aspect, the pill securing member and pill adjustment member maytogether be adapted and arranged such that user actuation of the pilladjustment actuator may cause simultaneous rotation and lateral movementof the secured pill.

In this aspect, a first pill securing member may be arranged to beaxially (front/back movement) moved by the user to cause axial movementof the pill and thereby secure the pill in the pill receiving area. Afirst pill securing member may be arranged relative to the pilladjustment member to slide axially relative to a portion of the pilladjustment member and thereby secure the pill.

In this aspect, a pill adjustment member may be arranged to be movedsolely laterally in response to user actuation of the pill adjustmentactuator. A pill adjustment member may be arranged to be further movedrotationally in response to user actuation of the pill adjustmentactuator.

In this aspect a pill adjustment member may be arranged to be movedsolely rotationally in response to user actuation of the pill adjustmentactuator. A pill adjustment member may be arranged to be further movedlaterally in response to user actuation of the pill adjustment actuator.

In this aspect, a pill adjustment member may comprise a rotationally andlaterally movable pill stage dimensioned to receive a pill thereon.

In this aspect, a pill adjustment member may be adapted to be detachablefrom the base portion and are adapted to be reattached to the baseportion for subsequent pill cutting. A pill adjustment member may bemagnetically detachable and re-attachable.

In this aspect, a blade may be removable from the bladed portion andreplaceable with a different blade.

One aspect of the disclosure includes pill cutters that include a pilladjustment actuator that is operably coupled to a pill adjustmentmember, the pill adjustment member movable relative to the pillreceiving area upon user actuation of the pill adjustment actuator tomove the secured pill along a path that does not follow a blade plane ofthe blade. Any optional disclosure related to the previous aspect abovemay also be included in this aspect of the disclosure.

One aspect of the disclosure includes pill cutters that include a pilladjustment actuator operably coupled to a pill adjustment member, thepill adjustment member movable relative to the pill receiving area uponuser actuation of the pill adjustment actuator to allow more than 50% ofa secured circular pill to be situated on a first side of a blade planebefore the pill is cut. Any optional disclosure related to the previoustwo aspects above may also be included in this aspect. In this aspect,the position of the pill may be adjusted such that it may beintentionally cut into pieces that are not equal sizes.

One aspect of the disclosure is a method of cutting a pill with a pillcutter, comprising moving a bladed portion of the pill cutter toward abase portion of the pill cutter, the bladed portion including a bladeand the base portion having a pill secured and disposed in a pillreceiving area; causing the blade to spin relative to the bladedportion; and cutting the pill while the blade is spinning relative tothe bladed portion.

One aspect of this disclosure is a method of cutting a pill with a pillcutter, wherein the method includes maintaining a pill in a cuttingposition in a pill receiving area of the pill cutter so that when ablade cuts through the pill, a linear length of the cut is less than aheight of the cut through the pill.

One aspect of this disclosure is a method of cutting a pill with a pillcutter, wherein the method comprises: maintaining a pill in anon-horizontal position relative to a surface on which it is placed inwhich a pill height relative to the surface on which the pill isdisposed is greater than a height of the pill if either a top or bottomsurface of the pill were placed on the surface.

One aspect of the disclosure is a method of cutting a pill with a pillcutter, wherein the method includes: cutting through a pill such thatthe blade contacts a side of the pill before it contacts a top or abottom of the pill, where the side has a height dimension less agreatest linear distance across the top of the pill and less than agreatest linear distance across the bottom of the pill.

One aspect of the disclosure is a method of loading a pill into a pillcutter, the method including: positioning a pill on a pill receivingsurface of a base portion of the pill cutter in a first positionrelative to the surface; and rotating the pill to a second position thatis more vertical than the first position; and maintaining the pillsecured in the second position. The method may further include cuttingthe pill with a blade of the pill cutter, such as with a spinning blade.

One aspect of the disclosure is a pill cutter with a pill securing andmoving assembly, the pill securing and moving assembly including a pillreceiving surface, wherein the pill cutter is adapted such that the pillreceiving surface is adapted to be rotated from a first position to asecond position, wherein in the second position the pill receivingsurface is more vertically oriented than in the first position.

One aspect of the disclosure is a pill cutter that includes a bladedportion comprising a blade that is adapted to spin to cut a pill,wherein the pill cutter includes one or more sensors that are adapted tosense one or more of motor current or motor speed, wherein an outputfrom the one or more sensors is input to determine one or more of anaspect of motor performance or a blade condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary pill cutter.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary pill cutter with a bladedportion in an open position relative to a base portion.

FIGS. 3A-3F illustrates an exemplary pill cutter and an exemplarysequence of using the pill cutter to cut a pill.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an exemplary pill receiving area of the pillcutter from FIGS. 3A-3F.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary pill cutter that is substantiallysimilar to the pill cutter from FIGS. 3A-4B.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary pill adjusting assembly of anexemplary pill cutter.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate an exemplary pill cutter adapted to rotate a pillin a pill receiving area.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an exemplary assembly adapted to rotate a pill toa non-horizontal position for cutting.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplary pill in a non-horizontal cuttingposition.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an exemplary pill cutter adapted to secureand cut a pill in a non-horizontal position.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary pill cutter that is adapted to secure avariety of pills having different shapes and sizes.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate exemplary mechanisms that are adapted to securea variety of pills having different shapes and sizes.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates some components of an exemplary pillcutter.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary method that may be incorporated intoany of the pill cutters herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure herein is related to pill cutters, as well as theirmethods of manufacture and use. One aspect of the disclosure hereinincludes methods of cutting pills, and optionally includes causing apill cutter blade to spin as it moves through the pill to cut the pill.In some implementations, the concepts herein may be incorporated intorelatively small, easy to handle and transport pill cutters, while inother implementations the pill cutters may be relatively larger size andare not necessarily considered handheld or as easily transportable. Withrespect to the former, there is a significant technical challenge inimplementing one or more of these features in a small, effective, andlow-cost product. Handheld pill cutters herein may also includefunctionality and features found in common pill splitters currentlycommercialized, such as V-shaped pill receiving areas.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary and illustrative handheldpill cutter 100. The handheld pill cutter includes a rotatable orspinnable blade 102 and one or more communication elements 104 or 104′that are in operable communication with the blade to facilitate bladerotation or spinning using energy from an energy source 106 or 106′. Theenergy source may be an on-board energy source 106 or external to thepill cutter such as energy source 106′. Optional external energy source106′ is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

In some embodiments an on-board energy source or power supply 106 may bea conventional battery, which may be rechargeable and which may beremovable from the handheld pill cutter. The energy source mayoptionally be an external energy source 106′ and external to thehandheld pill cutter housing. For example, handheld pill cutter 100 inFIG. 1 may include a cord that can be plugged into a wall outlet (ACpower supply), or a USB cord, for example. Many different types ofenergy sources may conceivably be used to provide power to the handheldpill cutter to cause blade rotation and thus pill cutting. Pill cuttersherein may optionally include an on-board energy source receiving areaor space, such as a receiving area or space with a configuration tostably receive a particular battery therein. For example, withoutlimitation, pill cutters may include a cylindrically shaped energysource receiving area, a coin or button shaped energy source receivingarea, a rectangular shaped energy source receiving area, etc. The energysource receiving areas may include electrical connections to facilitateelectrical communication between the energy source and a communicationelement 104 or 104′, which may include a motor.

The pill cutters herein may include one or more communication elements104 or 104′ adapted to be in operational communication with an energysource (on-board or external) to facilitate blade 102 rotation. Forexample without limitation, the one or more communication elements104/104′ may include one or more of electrical communication elements,optical communication elements, or one or more elements that convertenergy from one form to another, such as electrical to mechanical suchas a motor with a motor shaft rotationally coupled to the blade 102.

Materials and dimensions of the pill cutters herein may be similar tocommercially available handheld pill splitters. Handheld pill cuttersherein are optionally shaped and sized to be able to be held within orat least operated by a hand of a user. For example, the pill cutters areoptionally sized and configured such that they generally fit within ahand of a user. In some instances, handheld pill cutters herein are 2 cmto 20 cm wide (optionally from 5 cm to 15 cm wide), 3 cm to 10 cm highwhen the cover of a bladed portion is in a closed position relative to abase portion, and 5 cm to 25 cm long (axial or depth dimension). Inother implementations, however, any or all of the dimensions may belarger, such as if the pill cutter is a relatively larger, non-handheldpill cutter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a merely exemplary and illustrative handheld pillcutter 200, that has a configuration generally similar in some ways tosome commercially available handheld pill splitters. The exemplaryhandheld pill cutter 200 includes a bladed portion 210 that includes arotatable or spinnable blade 202, and a base portion 220 with a pillreceiving area 222 sized and configured to receive pill 230. In thisexample, the pill is considered to be a horizontal configuration orposition relative to a base surface on which it is placed. In thisexample, bladed portion 210 is movable relative to base portion 220 viaa hinged interface 224, as shown. Pill cutter 200 may include anon-board energy source 206 (or at least an on-board energy sourcereceiving area), which may be any of the on-board energy sourcesdescribed herein. The energy source is optionally disposed in the baseportion. Optionally, pill cutter 200 may be coupled to an externalenergy source 206′, such as any exemplary external power suppliesherein. In use, bladed portion 210 may be pressed down towards baseportion 220 to move blade 202 towards pill 230. The blade is inoperational communication with one or more communication elements (e.g.,which may include a motor) to cause the blade to spin and cut the pill,which may optionally be initiated automatically when bladed portion 210is pressed down far enough to a particular position relative to baseportion 220. This may also facilitate increased safety to make surefingers are not injured by the spinning blade.

In any of the embodiments herein, the handheld pill cutter may includeone or more circuits that are adapted to one or more of control theblade or monitor the blade, such as controlling the speed of the blade,on/off status of the blade, monitoring to determine if the blade isstuck or otherwise not rotating properly. Such a circuit may, forexample, be configured to automatically shut off the blade after acertain period of time, for example, or after a decrease in resistancebecause the blade has cut through the entire pill. Any of the pillcutters herein may thus further comprise one more computer executablemethods (e.g., software, firmware) that are executable by a processor toexecute the method and provide one or more outputs.

Any aspects of any handheld pill cutters described herein may becombined with other handheld pill cutters herein, including methods ofuse, even if not specifically described in combination herein.

One aspect of the disclosure is related to handheld pill cutters thatinclude a spinnable or rotatable circular blade, wherein the handheldpill cutter is adapted such that the blade cannot begin to spin to cutthe pill until a cover or lid (which may be part of any of the bladedportions herein, such as the lids shown in FIGS. 3A-3E) is in aparticular configuration, such as a closed configuration relative to abase portion. The cover or lid body is generally considered the mainbody of the bladed portion, and which is generally pushed down. FIG. 3Eillustrates a bladed portion (including a cover body) that is in aclosed configuration relative to a base portion. In some instances, thecover may not need to be completely closed relative to the base portion,such as in some particular configuration in which there is little or norisk of the spinning blade cutting a finger in proximity to the blade.

In some embodiments, the blade may or may not be spinnable depending onthe position of the blade and/or a blade arm to which the blade issecured relative to one or more positions, such as relative to anon-displaced, at-rest, or neutral position. For example, the handheldpill cutters may be configured such that the blade is not be adapted tospin if the blade is not displaced from a non-displaced or at-restposition when the cover is in a closed (or at least non-opened)configuration. If the blade is not displaced from at-rest position, forexample, this may indicate the absence of a pill in the pill cutter, andthe blade should not be spinning or spinnable. For example, if a coveris pressed down, and no pill is present in the pill cutter, the blade orblade arm may not be displaced from a neutral, at-rest, or non-displacedposition, and the pill cutter can be adapted to prevent the blade fromspinning, such as may be desired to conserve power in the energy source.If a pill is present, the blade may be displaced upward by the presenceof the pill as the cover is depressed, which is an example of the bladein a displaced position or configuration.

After the blade has begun to spin (which in some examples may only beinitiated if the blade is displaced from a non-displaced position), thepill cutter may be adapted and configured to stop the blade fromspinning or cause the spinning to slow if the blade moves from thedisplaced position to the at-rest position (which may be referred to asa neutral or non-displaced position), which may indicate that the bladehas cut through the entire pill. The pill cutters herein may thus beadapted to automatically stop the blade from spinning after the pill hasbeen cut, which can help save energy as well as indicate to the operatorthat the pill is cut and the cover can be lifted. Additionally, the pillcutters can be adapted such that if the cover is raised after bladespinning has begun but before the pill is completely cut, the blade willautomatically begin to slow or stop to minimize the risk of injuring theoperator.

Any of the pill cutters herein may be adapted to deactivate a motor,which causes the blade to stop spinning or slow if the blade moves to anon-displaced position (or other position). Any of the pill cuttersherein may include a switch that is adapted to indicate that the bladeor blade arm is or is not in the neutral position.

Any of the pill cutters herein may include an energy source that is inelectrical communication with a motor. The motor may include or berotationally coupled to a shaft that is directly or indirectly incommunication with the blade. Energy from the energy source may thusindirectly cause the blades herein to spin, which facilitate cutting ofthe pill.

In any of the embodiments herein (including blades that do not spin, aswell as circular blades that are adapted to spin), the pill cutter mayinclude one or more springs in indirect operable communication with theblade or blade arm, wherein the spring is adapted to cause the blade tomove in a direction through the pill to cut the pill. For example, anyof the pill cutters may include a spring that is compressed as the lidis closed to a closed position, wherein the one or more springs areadapted to cause the blade and/or blade arm to move towards anon-displaced position as the blade spins and cuts the pill, wherein themovement towards the non-displaced position cause the blade to cut thepill. By having a spring cut the pill rather than an operator, anoperator need not necessarily have to continue to apply enough force onthe lid to make sure the blade cuts through the pill. The pill cuttercan be adapted such that the spring does not cause the blade to move andcut the pill until the lid is fully closed (e.g., with a switch). In anyof these embodiments, the pill cutters may include first and secondswitches: a first switch for when a cover is moved to a closedconfiguration (e.g., FIG. 3E), and a second switch for when the bladeand/or blade arm are not in a displaced position (e.g., if the blade hasfinished cutting the pill).

In any of the examples herein, the pill cutter may be adapted to preventan operator from causing too much blade force from being applied to thepill (e.g., from too much lid closing force), which may cause a motor tostall or a blade to be damaged. In some examples, the pill cuttersherein may include a spring that is coupled to the cover or lid, andwherein the force of the blade on the pill is limited by the spring,which also gently drives the blade through the pill, as is describedabove.

In some examples that include a spinnable blade, pill cutters herein mayhave a motor that is out of direct connection with the blade, e.g., viagearing so the motor does not crash down on the pill, which may allowlarger pills to be placed in the receiving area and cut therein.

One aspect of the disclosure is related to a feedback arrangement thatcan indicate when to replace a blade. For example, any of the pillcutters herein may be adapted (e.g., with one or more of circuitry andcomputer executable method(s)) adapted to sense or measure motorcurrent, wherein an increase in current may indicate that the motor isnot cutting through the pill as easily, which may indicate the blade isworn. This may indicate that the blade should be replaced. Any of thepill cutters herein may have one or more control modules and/oralgorithms stored thereon that are adapted to receive as input motorcurrent or information indicative of motor current and determine if themeasured current or information is above a limit and/or outside of anacceptable range. The pill cutters herein may include an alert indicator(e.g., LED) that can be activated to indicate to the user to replace theblade or take other action (e.g., clean the pill cutter).

Additionally, any of the pill cutters herein may include a stall sensoron a motor (if the pill cutter includes a motor) that may be adapted todetect if the blade stalls in the pill. One or more modules, algorithmsand/or microprocessors in the pill cutter may be adapted to indicate astall state of the motor.

Additionally, any of the pill cutters herein that include a spinnableblade may have a removable spinning blade or removable spinning bladeassembly, which may be replaced if the blade is, for example, no longerfunctional or worn.

An optional aspect of this disclosure is related to adjusting theposition of the pill in the pill cutter, the concepts of which may beincorporated with cutters that include spinning blades as well astraditional pill splitters that do not include spinning blade. Someexisting pill splitters include a component or mechanism that providesthe ability to slide the pill in a direction along a plane of the blade(e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,164), which is essentially a front-to-backaxial movement and generally occurs as a way to clamp or grip the pillin the splitting area. One aspect of the disclosure herein providesmethods and devices for further adjusting the position of the pill in adirection other than along a plane of the blade (i.e., other than justan axial, +/−y, direction). In some instances, the pill cutters areadapted such that the position of the pill can be adjusted or movedlaterally, which is also referred to herein as having some side-to-sidemovement, or in the “x” direction of a coordinate system, which isillustrated in FIG. 6B. In some instances, the pill cutter is adaptedsuch that the position of the pill can be adjusted rotationally relativeto a rotational axis of the base portion. In some instances, the pillcutter is adapted such that the position of the pill can be adjustedlaterally and rotationally.

Pill cutters herein may be adapted such that lateral and/or rotationaladjustments to the pill position can be made after the pill is secured(e.g., gripped or clamped) in a pill receiving area. Being secured inthis context may also be referred to as being clamped in place, or heldin place, as generally occurs in traditional pill splitters. When thepill is secured, as that term is used herein, the pill may be in contactwith at least two generally opposing surfaces (not necessarily directlyopposing) that work together with the pill to secure the pill in place.For example, a small section of a pill that is only contacting a singlesurface such that the pill can be easily displaced from its position isgenerally not considered to be secured in the pill receiving area. Apill may be secured such that movement of the pill cutter (e.g., turningit upside down) does not cause the pill to become unsecured.

Lateral and/or rotational adjustment of a pill as set forth herein canprovide the ability to adjust a lateral position of the pill and/or therotational orientation of the pill relative to a plane of the blade,which refers to the plane through which the blade moves or follows as itmoves down and cuts. These types of adjustments provide the ability toprovide more control of the position of the pill to cut the pill along adesired cut line and/or cut a pill into pieces that are not equallysized (e.g., two halves), for example.

It is understood that while some of the disclosure herein is related tocircular blades that are spun to cut a pill, methods of pill positionadjustment herein may be implemented in pill cutters that do not utilizea spinning blade. For example only, any pill splitter or method of usedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,164 may be modified to include any ofthe additional pill position adjustments herein, such as lateral and/orrotational pill adjustment concepts described herein.

FIGS. 3A-3F and 4A and 4B illustrate a merely exemplary handheld pillcutter 400 that illustrates a merely exemplary way to provide lateraland/or rotational adjustment to the position of a secured pill. FIGS. 4Aand 4B illustrate components of a pill securing and adjusting assemblyin detail which are also shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, while FIGS. 3A-3F providean exemplary general sequence of steps to cut a pill, which incorporatesthe exemplary pill securing and adjusting assembly shown in FIGS. 4A and4B.

In this example, handheld pill cutter 400 includes base portion 420 witha pill receiving area 422. Pill receiving area 422 comprises a region ofbase surface 429 illustrated in FIG. 4A. Pill cutter 400 includes bladedportion 410 which includes a blade (not visible). Pill cutter 400includes pill securing member 428, which is disposed to be movable by auser relative to pill receiving area 422 to secure pill 430 between atleast first and second surfaces (e.g., surface 427). FIG. 3C illustratesa pill secured in pill receiving area 422, and in this embodiment isbetween at least one surface 427 of pill adjustment member 426 and atleast one surface of pill securing member 428, as shown in FIG. 3C.

Pill cutter 300 also includes a pill adjustment actuator 423 that isoperably coupled to pill adjustment member 426. Pill adjustment member426 is movable relative to pill receiving area 422 upon user actuationof pill adjustment actuator 423 to facilitate lateral movement of thesecured pill 430 relative to a blade plane.

To prepare to load and secure a pill, pill stabilizing member 428 may bemoved axially towards the front of the pill cutter (in the −y direction)to the position shown in FIGS. 3B and 4A to provide access to pillreceiving area 422. This is an example of a pill stabilizing memberadapted to slide relative to a pill adjustment member. Axially in thiscontext may also be referred to as the front-to-back direction relativeto the base portion, or the +/−y direction of a coordinate system, as isillustrated in FIG. 6B. It is understood that in some embodiments, amovable pill securing member may be initially set in the position shownin FIGS. 3B and 4A. In some optional embodiments the movable pillsecuring member may be adapted with an at-rest (or less stressed)position, such as the position shown in FIG. 3A (such as via a springforce) such that when the movable securing member is moved (e.g., springstretched) to a stressed position in FIG. 3B, the spring force willcause the movable pill securing member to automatically revert to ortowards the less stressed position shown in FIG. 3A. Alternatively, insome embodiments, the pill cutter may be adapted such that an operatormay simply push or slide the pill securing member distally forward(i.e., in the positive y direction). In this embodiment, movable pillsecuring member 428 includes one or more surfaces as shown that arearranged to interface with pill adjustment member 428 such that themovable pill securing member 428 slides relative to pill adjustmentmember 426, as shown in FIG. 3C. Pill adjustment member 426 thus acts aguide for the movement of movable pill securing member 428. In thisexample, securing member 428 is adapted to slide axially relative topill adjustment member 426.

When pill securing member 428 is in a position to provide access to thepill area, a pill can be placed within pill receiving area 422, such asis shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. 5. In some embodiments, a user may releasethe pill securing member, which may cause the pill securing member toautomatically slide forward and cause the pill to be secured or clampedin the pill receiving area between surfaces of the securing member andthe adjustment member, as is shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. 5. In alternativeembodiments, the pill securing member may be pushed forward to cause thepill to be secured (clamped) in place in the pill receiving area. FIG.4A illustrates exemplary pill adjustment member surfaces 427 againstwhich the pill may be clamped or gripped when the movable pill securingmember 428 moves forward. Surfaces 427 may be considered to be part of afence which forms a backstop for the pill.

After the pill is secured or clamped in the pill receiving area, theposition and/or rotational orientation of the pill may be adjusted,which may provide the exemplary benefits set forth herein.

In the merely exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-5, pill cutter 400includes a first pill adjustment member, which refers generally to oneor more components that can be actuated or moved to adjust the positionof the pill laterally and/or rotationally relative to a plane of theblade. Lateral movement in this context may comprise solely lateralmovement, such as movement purely in a +/−x direction in a coordinatesystem. Lateral movement may also include some x direction movement aswell as some +/−y directional movement in the coordinate system. Themovement may or may not include rotation of the pill about an axis.Lateral and/or rotational movement is described herein as movementcaused by one or more components of the pill cutter other than by a userdirectly touching a surface of the pill. A user may touch and move apill adjustment member, but this type of movement generally does notrely on a user directly contacting a surface of the pill to move it.This may be referred to generally as indirect user pill positioningadjustment after pill capture (pill securing).

In the merely exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-5, pill cutter 400includes pill adjustment actuator 423, which in this example isunitarily formed with pill adjustment member 426 and is considered anextension of pill adjustment member 426. Actuator 423 is positionedrelative to the pill receiving area and is sized and configured to begrabbed or touched by a user and moved by a user to cause movement ofpill adjustment member 426, which repositions pill 430 secured in thepill receiving area.

In the example shown in FIGS. 3A-5, pill adjustment member 426 isadapted and configured to be moved laterally and rotationally, as shownin FIG. 4A by the double arrow line, about rotational axis or pivot 425shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 3F illustrates a user hand in the process ofgrabbing the pill adjustment actuator to cause one or both of lateraland rotational movement. Movement of pill adjustment member 426 in thisembodiment caused by user movement of actuator 423 causes somerotational movement of pill adjustment member 426 and movable pillsecuring member 428, which causes movement (e.g., rotational) of thepill that is secured or gripped in the pill receiving area between themovable pill securing member and the pill adjustment member surface(s),all of which are moving rotationally relative to the rotational axis425. Movement of actuator 423 in this particular example also causeslateral, or side-to-side movement of the pill relative to the bladeplane. Slot 421 shown in FIG. 4A also generally includes the plane ofthe blade, which is the plane in which the blade moves or follows as itis moved downward. A blade path as that phrase is used herein generallyrefers to the path of the blade and is disposed in a blade plane. Theslot may alternatively be any other type of marker or indicator (e.g., aline) on the base that indicates on the base of the pill cutter wherethe blade plane is. The position of the pill can be adjusted withreference to the blade marker (e.g., a slot, line) so that a user canvisualize where the cut line will be on the pill, and thus a marker canhelp adjust the pill to the desired position in the pill receiving areabased on the desired cut. The moveable pill securing member may bepulled forward towards the front of the pill cut in the negative y (−y)direction at any time (such as to loosen the grip on the pill) asdesired to help further adjust the position of the pill.

This is an example of a pill cutter adapted to move a secured pill indirection that does not follow a blade plane. This is also an example ofa pill cutter that is adapted to cut a secured pill into pieces ofunequal size.

After the pill is in the desired lateral position and/or rotationalorientation relative to the blade plane, the pill may then be cut. Ifthe blade is adapted to spin, any aspect of any of the disclosure hereinrelated to a spinning blade may be included in this example, as thespinnable blade that is shown in the example of FIG. 5. Pill cutter 400may alternatively have a more traditional blade that is part of thebladed portion and that is pressed down towards the base portion to cutthe pill. FIG. 3E illustrates a cover body of the bladed portion afteris has been pressed or pushed down, and which is an example of a closedposition of the bladed portion. In some examples the blade may then beactivated to cause it to spin to cut the pill, as shown in FIG. 3F. Insome embodiments the blade activation may be automatically initiated bythe pill cutter. In some examples it may be manual activated by theuser, such as by, for example only, pressing a button on the pillcutter.

Any of the pill adjustment actuators herein, such as actuator 423, maybe held or maintained in position by a user, which may help or berequired to keep the pill in a desired position during cutting.

Pill cutters herein may optionally include one or more removable pilladjustment members, which may facilitate easier cleaning of the pillarea. For example only, in FIGS. 4A and 4B, pill adjustment member 426includes a head (circular head in this example as shown) through whichthe rotational axis 425 passes, wherein the head may be releasablymagnetically coupled to a second magnetic material in the base portionover which it is situated. The magnetic coupling can be strong enough tomaintain adjustment member 426 associated with the base portion, yeteasy enough such that an operator can easily remove adjustment member426, which can allow the pill receiving area to be more easily cleanedwhen the adjustment member is removed. The adjustment member(s) can thenbe re-coupled (magnetically) to secure it to the base when ready forsubsequent use.

Pill cutters herein may include a motor and/or or one or more switches.A motor and/or one or more switches may be at least partially sealed sothat ground pill dust cannot enter those regions, minimizing thelikelihood or preventing the pill cutter from malfunctioning.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary base portion 620 of an exemplarypill cutter 600. Pill cutter 600 includes pill adjustment member 626.FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate bottom and top views of base portion 620 ofcutter 600, without a pill therein for clarity. A bladed portion, whichincludes a cover body and a blade, is not shown for clarity, but mayinclude any other features of any bladed portion herein. In thisembodiment, pill adjustment member 626 comprises a movable stage uponwhich a pill may be placed and secured. Pill adjustment member 626 isoperatively coupled to first and second side pill adjustment actuators623 as shown, which in this example extend generally laterally fromadjustment member 626 as shown and are positioned to be grabbed by auser to move pill adjustment member 626. Pill adjustment member 626 isadapted to be moved laterally and rotationally relative to base portion620.

Pill cutter 600 also includes a movable pill securing member 628 asshown, which is adapted to move axially (in the +/−y direction) relativeto pill adjustment member 626 to secure or clamp a pill in the pillreceiving area, which includes a top surface of the movable stage inthis embodiment. Pill securing member 628 may slide within a channel orslot within the movable stage, for example without limitation. Inalternatives, pill cutter 600 may include a single actuator 623.

The one or more laterally extending side adjustment actuators (in thisexample there are two) are adapted to actuated to create and causelateral movement of the stage (and a pill secured thereon) and/orrotational movement of the stage (and a pill secured thereon), for theexemplary benefits described herein. The stage may be movably secured tobase portion 620 (yet laterally and rotationally movable thereto) with aretainer or other securing member 629 situated on the bottom sideopening or slot 621, an example of which is shown in FIG. 6A. Retainer629 has at least one dimension that is larger than a correspondingdimension of slot 621, which prevents pill adjustment member 626 frombeing completely disassociated from base portion 620.

In this embodiment, there is a rotational axis, which passes through themovable stage. The rotational axis in this example is thus movablerelative to base portion 620 and thus movable to a blade plane. In thisexample, the pill can be moved solely laterally without rotating thepill, and vice versa, by controlling the movement of the pill adjustmentmember (i.e., lateral movement and rotation are uncoupled). This is alsoan example of a pill cutter that is adapted such that pill may besimultaneously moved laterally and rotationally relative to baseportion. Front actuator 623 allows for axial movement of the pillsecuring member 628 to facilitate securing the pill in place against afence, as shown.

In any of embodiments, herein, the blade may be stainless steel, andoptionally diamond sintered.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to pill cutters in which the pillis cut when the pill is in an orientation other than a traditionalhorizontal position (or nearly horizontal) relative to a pill receivingsurfaces on which the pill is positioned. The blade may work best whenthe linear length of the cut (illustrated in FIG. 9B) is minimized. Forexample, the linear length of the cut may be less when the pill isupright than when the same pill is placed in a traditional horizontalposition (or nearly horizontal) on the surface with the blade cuttingthrough the larger-dimension top or bottom surfaces of the pill.Traditional pill splitters may split the pill through the top or bottomof the pill, in which case the linear length of the cut may be greaterthan in this aspect of this disclosure. Decreasing the linear length ofthe cut (e.g., by positioning the pill upright) can advantageouslyreduce torque, create less dust when cutting, and cause less vibration.As shown in FIG. 9B, pill splitters herein may be adapted to position apill in a position such that the linear length of the cut is less thanthe cut height through the pill, as shown in the example of FIG. 9B.

In these examples, the pill may be referred to as being in anon-horizontal position relative to a surface on which it sits whensecured in the pill receiving area. In some instances, the pill may bemore vertically oriented than horizontally oriented, and is consideredupright even if not completely vertically oriented relative to thesurface on which is disposed.

FIGS. 7A-10B illustrate examples of pill cutters configured fornon-horizontal pill cutting, methods of pill loading into non-horizontalpositions, as well as methods of cutting pills when they are innon-horizontal positions.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate exemplary pill cutter 1000. FIGS. 8A-8Dillustrate in detail an exemplary securing and rotation assembly 1050that is part of pill cutter 1000. Pill cutter 1000 is also an example ofa pill cutter that is adapted and arranged to rotate a pill into anon-horizonal position before cutting the pill, which is unliketraditional pill splitters.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate in more detail securing and rotation assembly1050 that is shown as part of the pill cutter in in FIGS. 7A-10B. FIG.8A shows pill 1055 after it has been placed on platform 1051. Actuator1054 is coupled to shaft 1058 and pill securing members 1053 such thatwhen an operator rotates actuator 1054, pill securing members 1053rotate upward through platform slots 1056 from the position in FIG. 8Aand into contact with pill 1055, as shown in FIG. 8B. Rotation ofactuator 1054 secures the pill in the pill receiving area between pillsecuring members 1053 and fence 1052 (labeled in FIG. 8A) while onplatform 1051, as shown in FIG. 8B. Continued rotation of actuator 1054rotates all of pill securing members 1053, platform 1051, the pill 1055secured in the pill receiving area, and the fence, as shown in FIG. 8C.The transition between FIGS. 8B and 8C shows the pill being rotated intoan upright, non-horizontal position. The rotation to the non-horizontalcutting position in also shown in FIG. 7C. FIG. 7B shows a pill placedon the platform but not yet secured and rotated to the non-horizontalcutting position. FIG. 7A shows pill cutter 1000 before the pill isplaced onto the platform. FIG. 7A also shows spinnable blade 1002coupled to blade arm 1003 that are part of bladed portion 1010, and baseportion 1020. A blade arm like blade arm 1003 may be incorporated intoany of the pill cutters herein. The blade arms herein may be coupled toor part of any of the bladed portions herein. Any of the blade arms maybe secured to but movable with respect to a cover or lid portion of theblade portion, which is described in more detail herein.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B illustrate pill cutter 1000 without the pillsecuring and rotation assembly 1050 for clarity, with FIGS. 9A and 9Bshowing the pill cutter more schematically than FIGS. 10A and 10B. Baseportion 1020 includes base fence 1060 with a slot therein to accommodatethe blade, as shown in FIGS. 9A-10B. As the pill 1055 is rotated asshown between FIGS. 8B and 8C, the pill moves into a non-horizontalsecured position shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and is secured betweenplatform 1051, fence 1052, and base fence 1060. The bladed portion 1010may then be pressed downward and the blade activated and spun to cut thepill, as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B. Once the pill is cut,actuator 1054 can be rotated back, which causes the rotation of theplatform 1051 and the cut pill, as shown in FIG. 8D. Rotating theplatform and pill as shown in FIG. 8D allows the pill to optionally fallonto ramp 1069 as shown in FIG. 8D, where the user can retrieve the cutpill 1055.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the linear length of the cut is less than thecut height through the pill. The pill shown in FIGS. 9A-10B is also anexample of a pill in a non-horizontal position in which a pill heightrelative to a base portion surface on which the pill is disposed isgreater than a height of the pill if the pill were placed in ahorizontal configuration, such as if it were sitting on a tabletop. Thepill shown in FIGS. 9A-10B is also an example of a pill that isnon-horizontal but not completely vertically disposed. The arrangementin FIGS. 9A-10B is also an example of cutting through a pill such thatthe blade contacts a side 1080 of the pill before it contacts one orboth of a top or a bottom 1081 of the pill, wherein if the same pillwere sitting on a horizontal surface with bottom 1081 on the horizontalsurface, side 1080 of the pill would have a height dimension that isless than a greatest linear distance across the top and less than agreatest linear distance across the bottom 1081.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary handheld pill cutter 1200 includingbladed portion 1210 and base portion 1220 hingedly coupled thereto. Pillcutter 1200 includes a blade 1202 that is optionally adapted to be spunto cut the pill, and may thus include any features of any of the pillcutters herein that include a spinnable blade. Pill cutter 1200 mayinclude any other suitably combinable feature of any other pill cutterherein, such as a power source and a motor, for example.

Pill cutter1200 includes pill adjustment actuator 1223 that is disposedto be held and actuated by an operator. In the example shown, baseportion includes window or opening 1291 through which pill adjustmentactuator 1223 is accessible to be held and moved. FIG. 12B illustratesan alternative arrangement in which pill adjustment actuator 1223 issituated towards the front of the pill cutter (front is downward in FIG.12B). The pill adjustment actuator can thus be disposed in eitherlocation depending on the arrangement of the pill securing assemblyrelative to the base portion. As shown in FIG. 12B, pill adjustmentactuator 1223 is hingedly coupled at interfaces 1293 to first endregions of first and second pill adjustment members 1226, as is shown.First and second pill adjustment members 1226 are also hingedly coupledat second end regions to first and second pill securing members 1228, asshown. Pill securing members 1228 interface with the base portion athinged interfaces 1281, which allows the securing members to pivotrelative to the base surface at interfaces 1281. This arrangement allowsa user to interact or interface with a single pill adjustment actuator1223 and indirectly control the position of the first and second pillsecuring members 1228, which facilitates securing or clamping the pillin place between securing members 1228 and fence 1280.

Pill securing members 1228 are adapted to be rotated about pivots 1281,and FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary range of motion of pill securingmembers 1228 about pivots 1281. While FIG. 12A shows an exemplary rangeof motion of the pill securing members, they may generally besymmetrically positioned (including during movement) relative to thepath or plane of the blade. FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary range ofmotion between the two dashed lines, which allows the pill securingmembers to be able to secure and grip a wide variety of pill shapes andsizes. The circular and oval dashed lines in FIG. 12A representexemplary pills and exemplary pill positions, and illustrate how thefreedom of movement of the pill securing members allows them to secure avariety of pill shapes and sizes when an operator moves pill adjustmentactuator 1223. The pill securing members are adapted to rotate asillustrated in FIG. 12A, and are not adapted to overlap with the bladepath or blade plane throughout their range of motion.

This arrangement may also optionally allow the user to position the twosecuring members in different positions relative to the base and fenceby moving the actuator 1223 accordingly. By optionally allowing forindividual position control of the different securing members 1228, thisarrangement may allow the user to secure and cut pills having a varietyof configurations, including those that might require the securingmembers to be positioned in different positions relative to the base.Additionally, once the pill is secured, additional user actuation ofactuator 1223 allows the user to move the pill in a direction other thanalong a blade plane, such as laterally (descried elsewhere herein),which may allow for cuts to be made other than simply cutting the pillinto equally-sized pieces.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates pill cutter 1400 that optionallyincludes one or more processors or controllers 1404, one or morecomputer executable methods 1402 (e.g., software, firmware, algorithms),and electronics 1406. Electronics 1406 may include any hardware,electrical connections and circuitry that are adapted to perform andprovide any of the pill cutter functionality herein.

For example, electronics 1406 may include one or more sensors, such as afirst sensor that is adapted to sense if the bladed portion issufficiently closed such that a motor can be safely activated(energized), which is described in more detail herein. Electronics mayalso include a sensor (optionally a second sensor) that is adapted tosense or determine if a blade or blade arm are displaced by the presenceof a pill, which is described in more detail herein. Pill cutter 1400may incorporate any of the features of any of the pill cutters describedherein. Any of the components schematically illustrated may be disposedin either a bladed portion or a base portion, for example.

In some examples, the pill cutters herein may be adapted to determineone or more or if the motor is functioning at an acceptable level or ifthe blade is in an acceptable state or condition. For example only, pillcutters herein may include a first sensor that is adapted to monitor thespeed of a motor, and a second sensor that is adapted to sense the motorcurrent. An output from the first sensor may indicate the motor speed isoutside of an acceptable range (e.g., below), which may indicate themotor is not operating optimally, such as if the motor is jammed. Anoutput from the second sensor may indicate that the motor current isoutside of an acceptable range (e.g., higher or lower than an acceptablerange), which may indicate the blade is worn and needs to be replaced.

FIG. 14 illustrates a merely exemplary decision tree and method that maybe implemented into one or more computer executable methods, and whichis described in more detail herein. FIG. 14 illustrates a merelyexemplary method that may be performed in or with any of the pillcutters herein, wherein the pill cutter is adapted to prevent the motorfrom being activated (or allow the motor to be activated) in certainscenarios, and thus adapted to either prevent or allow the blade to spinin those scenarios. Not all steps in FIG. 14 need to be implemented inthe method.

The decision tree shown in the method of FIG. 14 may be modified toillustrate a method that includes sensing one or both of motor speed andmotor current, the implementation of which is described in more detailabove.

Even if not specifically indicated, one or more techniques described inthis disclosure may be implemented, at least in part, in hardware,software, firmware or any combination thereof. For example, variousaspects of the techniques or components may be implemented within one ormore processors, including one or more microprocessors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic circuitry, orthe like, either alone or in any suitable combination. The term“processor” or “processing circuitry” may generally refer to any of theforegoing circuitry, alone or in combination with other circuitry, orany other equivalent circuitry.

Such hardware, software, or firmware may be implemented within the samedevice or within separate devices to support the various operations andfunctions described in this disclosure. In addition, any of thedescribed units, modules or components may be implemented together orseparately as discrete but interoperable logic devices. Depiction ofdifferent features as modules or units is intended to highlightdifferent functional aspects and does not necessarily imply that suchmodules or units must be realized by separate hardware or softwarecomponents. Rather, functionality associated with one or more modules orunits may be performed by separate hardware or software components, orintegrated within common or separate hardware or software components.

When implemented in software, the functionality ascribed to the systems,devices and techniques described in this disclosure may be embodied asinstructions on a computer-readable medium such as random access memory(RAM), read only memory (ROM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Flash memory, and the like. Theinstructions may be executed by a processor to support one or moreaspects of the functionality described in this disclosure.

The pill cutters herein may be used to cut a wide variety of pills, suchas medical pills (e.g., prescription, over-the-counter), vitamins, etc.

It is understood that features and functionality described in certainexamples or embodiments may be integrated and incorporated into otherexamples or embodiments unless the disclosure herein indicates to thecontrary. Additionally, certain features and functionality herein may beintegrated into existing pill splitters without necessarily requiringevery feature from an example or embodiment be incorporated. Forexample, any of the pill cutters herein may include a spinning blade,but in other embodiments or examples, the pill cutter may functionwithout using a spinning blade and may include a blade that is the sameor similar to traditional pill splitters with blades that do not spin.Additionally, any of the features herein not specifically related tospinning blade pill cutters may describe features that may be integratedinto traditional pill cutters. For example, the disclosure includesexamples in which the pill cutters are adapted to control and causelateral pill movement, which may be integrated into traditional pillsplitters.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld pill cutter adapted to cut a pill,comprising: a base portion that includes a pill receiving area sized andconfigured to receive a pill; a bladed portion that includes a bladeadapted to spin, the bladed portion movably coupled to the base portionand movable relative to the base portion to allow access to the pillreceiving area to position a pill in the pill receiving area; and one ormore energy communication elements configured to operably communicateenergy from an energy source to the blade to cause the blade to spinrelative to the bladed portion, the blade arranged and disposed relativeto the pill receiving area such that when the bladed portion is movedtowards the base portion and when the blade is spinning, the blade cutsthrough a pill that is secured in the pill receiving area.
 2. The pillcutter of claim 1, further comprising a blade spin preventing mechanismthat is adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade. 3.The pill cutter of claim 2, wherein the blade spin preventing mechanismis adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade if thebladed portion is in a first position relative to the base portion. 4.The pill cutter of claim 3, wherein the blade spin preventing mechanismis adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade if thebladed portion is in a fully open position relative to the base portion.5. The pill cutter of claim 3, wherein the blade spin preventingmechanism is adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the bladeif the bladed portion is not in a closed position relative to the baseportion.
 6. The pill cutter of claim 3, wherein the blade spinpreventing mechanism is further adapted to prevent the pill cutter fromspinning the blade if one or both of the blade or a blade arm is notdisplaced from a neutral position with respect to the bladed portion. 7.The pill cutter of claim 2, wherein the blade spin preventing mechanismis adapted to prevent the pill cutter from spinning the blade if one orboth of the blade or a blade arm is not displaced from a neutralposition within the bladed portion.
 8. The pill cutter of claim 2,wherein the blade spin preventing mechanism comprises a motor that is incommunication with the blade, and wherein the pill cutter is adapted toprevent the motor from being activated when one or both of the bladedportion is not in a closed configuration, or the blade or a blade arm isnot displaced from a neutral position.
 9. The pill cutter of claim 2,wherein the blade spin preventing mechanism comprises a motor that is incommunication with the blade, and wherein the pill cutter is adapted toprevent the motor from being activated to spin the blade when one orboth of the bladed portion is in a fully open configuration, or theblade or a blade arm is not displaced from a neutral position within thebladed portion.
 10. The pill cutter of claim 2, wherein the pill cutteris adapted to cause the spinning blade to slow or stop if the bladedportion is moved from a closed configuration.
 11. The pill cutter ofclaim 10, wherein the pill cutter is further adapted to automaticallycause the spinning blade to slow or stop when the blade has cut throughthe pill.
 12. The pill cutter of claim 11, wherein the pill cutter isfurther adapted to cause the spinning blade to slow or stop when one orboth of the blade or a blade arm return from a displaced configurationto a neutral position within the bladed portion that indicates the pillhas been cut.
 13. The pill cutter of claim 2, wherein the pill cutter isfurther adapted to cause the spinning blade to slow or stop when one orboth of the blade or a blade arm return from a displaced configurationto a neutral position within the bladed portion that indicates the pillhas been cut.
 14. The pill cutter of claim 13, further comprising aspring that is positioned and arranged to be compressed as the bladedportion is moved towards a closed position relative to the base portion,and where the spring is adapted to cause one or both of the blade or theblade arm to move towards the neutral position as the blade spins andcuts the pill, wherein the movement towards the neutral position causesthe blade to cut through the pill.
 15. The pill cutter of claim 1,further comprising a spring that is positioned and arranged to becompressed as the bladed portion is moved towards a closed positionrelative to the base portion, and where the spring is adapted to causeone or both of the blade or the blade arm to move towards a neutralposition as the blade spins and cuts the pill, wherein the movementtowards the neutral position causes the blade to cut through the pill.16. The pill cutter of claim 1, wherein the one or more energycommunication elements comprises a motor in communication with the bladesuch that when the motor is activated the motor causes the blade tospin.
 17. The pill cutter of claim 16, where the motor is disposed inthe bladed portion.
 18. The pill cutter of claim 17, wherein the bladedportion has a width from 2 cm and 20 cm.
 19. The pill cutter of claim18, further comprising an energy source receiving area disposed in thebase portion, the energy source receiving area sized and configured toreceive a removable energy source therein.
 20. The pill cutter of claim19, wherein the energy source receiving area is axially behind the pillreceiving area.
 21. The pill cutter of claim 16, wherein the blade is inrotational communication with a motor shaft.
 22. The pill cutter ofclaim 16, wherein the motor is in electrical communication with anenergy source receiving area, wherein the energy source receiving areais configured and dimensioned to receive a battery therein.
 23. The pillcutter of claim 1, wherein one of the bladed portion or the base portionincludes a battery receiving area configured to stably receive aremovable battery therein.
 24. The pill cutter of claim 23, wherein thebattery receiving area is configured to stably receive therein one of acylindrical battery, a rectangular battery, or a coin-shaped battertherein.
 25. The pill cutter of claim 23, wherein the battery receivingarea does not overlap with a blade path of the blade in a top-down viewof the handheld pill cutter, when the bladed portion is pressed down andin a closed position relative to the base portion.
 26. The pill cutterof claim 1, wherein the pill cutter has a width from 2 cm to 20 cm. 27.The pill cutter of claim 1, wherein the base portion and the bladedportion have a hinged relationship at an end region of the pill cutterto facilitate opening and closing of the bladed portion relative to thebase portion.
 28. The pill cutter of claim 1, further comprising: one ormore pill securing members disposed to be movable by a user relative tothe pill receiving area to secure a pill between at least first andsecond surfaces when the pill is placed in the pill receiving area; anda pill adjustment actuator operably coupled to a pill adjustment member,the pill adjustment member movable relative to the pill receiving areaupon user actuation of the pill adjustment actuator to facilitate atleast some lateral movement of the secured pill relative to a bladeplane.
 29. The pill cutter of claim 1, wherein the pill cutter is sizedand configured to maintain a pill in a non-horizontal position in whicha pill height relative to a base portion surface on which the pill isdisposed is greater than a height of the pill if either a top or bottomsurface of the pill were placed on the base portion surface.